Flexible chain



N. C. LEVY.

FLEXIBLE CHAIN.

APPLICATION FILED 1uLY23.I9zI.

Patente@ Aug. 22? w22,

NORMAN C. LETTY', OF NFN YORK., N. Y.

'j Y l .FLEXIBLE CHAIN'.

Messes.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 22, i922.

.Application filed. July 23, 1921. Serial No. 487,163.

To all w/wm t may concern:

Be it known that l, NORMAN C. LEVY, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the borough of ls/lanhattan, city, county, and State of N ew York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Flexible Chains, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in flexible chains especially adapted for use in jewelry, for instance, for bracelets and the like.

@ne of the main objects of the invention is to provide a flexible chain of channel formation made up of a series of arch-shape members which form the outer side or surface ofthe chain, and connecting means which are flexibly joined to the outer links.

Another object of the invention is to provide connecting links with means adapted to cover the joints between said side members and hold them in longitudinal alignment.

One of the advantages of a iiexible chain of channel formation is that it is well adapted for use as a bracelet; and because of its Open back or inner side it may be studded with jewels, and also may be ,1 readily cleaned.

rlhere are other important objects and advantages of the invention which will more fully hereinafter appear.

1n the drawing, Fig. 1 is a face view of the outer side of the chain, partly in longitudinal section; f

Fig. 2 a face view of the inner side of the chain;

Fig. 3 a side elevation of the chain flexed in full lines and partly in section, the chain being shown straight in dotted lines;

Fig, l a transverse sectional view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1; j

Fig. 5 a. detail perspective view of one of the arch-shape outer links;

Fig. 6 a detail perspective view of one of the connecting links showing it bent into its final form;

Fig. 7a detail view of the blank form which the outer links are made;

Fig. 8 a detail view of the blank form from which the connecting links are made;

Fig. 9. a detail perspective view of one of the connecting `links after the first bending operation; v

.ll-0 a side elevation partly in section ,ed to be shaped into a chain of the form shown in Fig. l2.

The chain is made up of a set or series of arch-shape links l. Each of these links comprises an outer or face member 2 and the two side members 3. rThe side members are preferably bent at right angles to the outer face member and are each perforated as at 4l. These links are arranged side by side and close together so that the joints vbetween them run transversely of the chain,

the side members forming portions of the sides of the chain. The side members are slightly tapered from the face member 2, so that the free ends thereof are slightly knarrower than the ends connected to said face member. rlChe transverse edges of the outer face members are curved or offset in order'to'give the outer side of the chain a pleasing appearance; and this oflset may be made of any suitable shape.

rThe connecting links each comprise a body part 5; two end lug portions 6 and a Atail piece 0r extension 7 connected to the middle of one edge of the body part 5. The

lug 6 and extension are slightly reduced .in thickness in orderthat they may be readily bent, as hereinafter described.

The blank shown in Fig. 7 for the outer arch-shape links is first bent to the form shown in Fig. 5. The connecting links are first bent to the form shown in Fig. 9. In this form the lugs 6 are passed through the yper-forations lof adjoining outer links and ,are then bent toward each otherto vflexibly connect the outer links together, as shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 6.v rlhe extension 7 is then bent round under the edges of the side members 3 of adjoining outer links, as shown clearly in Fig. 4C. rlhe connecting links, as shown clearly in Fig. 3, cover the greater part of the joints between the side members of the outer links; and the tail pieces or extensions 7 cover the edges of the side members 3 of said outer links. As shown in the drawings, two connecting links are connected to eachside member of the outer links, one of the lugs of' each of said connecting links extending-throughther perforations in said side member. The eX- tension 7 serves as means to hold the ends ot the side members 3 in longitudinal alignment'.v The joints betweenv they chain links must be substantially loose to permit the chain to be flexed, and ithe lbei'it-o'verex`- tensions prevent thc links l gettingout of alignment'along the openside oii'th'e chain'. Vilhen th'ey chain is; uscdiior a bracelet, the open side of the chain is next tothe wearer and ittis desirablev that the edgesr which contact with the 'wearer-f should be kept in sub*- stantially longitudinal alignment and that a smooth surface bel provided along the edges of the chain. The'extension 7 serves these purposes.

In Figs. 10 and 1l" the tail-pieces or eX- tension 7 are longer than these shawn in the other figures of` the drawing and extend over the clinched'lugs 6, as shown at 8 in said figures. These bent-over lugs Sserve as means for locking the vclinched lugs 6.

' The, connections betweenv the' connecting links and the'side members of the outer links are sufhciently loose to permit the chain tok be flexed, as shown inA Fig. 3, the tapered side members oiithe outerlinks permitting oi this. flexing or bending of the completed chain. Becausev oit the 'tapered 'formation of'the side members ofthev outer links the chain may be fllexedorfbent without undue separation ofthe outer or face members of the links.

ln Fig. 12 ythe extensions-7L of` the connecting .links are bent around and their ends are brought directly inv contact with the edges of the side members Sfoffthe linksv l. In this position theyl serve as means to maintain' the ends ofthe side members in substantially longitudinal alignment and also present aslnooth Vsurface to the wearer of a bracelet madeup `from this chain. lf

desired the connectingl links 5L may be rigidly attached toI the ends ofthe side members 3' by means of solder,` or` otherwise.

lullig. 13 is illustrated the position ot the connecting links 5" when permanently secured tothe endsl oftheblank from `which the links "l are made:` Asthere shown. the extension 7ais connected to the ends ofthe side. members 3 butareoffset inl suchman- .ner that when thelugs 6a are ,bent up they are properly 'positioned to ententhe apertures 4 `in adjoining links l."

In Fig. ll-theconnecting links and the blankfor the `arch-shape links lare formed in v.one i piece instead,v of being' connected togetheras shownv in Fig. 13.' VA chainA made up from the construction shown in" Figs.v 13 and" lll; would iny cross-section' be' substantiallyzas` shown in Fig. l122 lnL this form .of chainth'e connectingmeans would be rigidly attached to one of the arch-shape links 1V randloosely or flexibly connected to the adjoining links 1..

It is manifest that the chain made up as shownvand described 4herein is of channel ,form and may be readily cleaned. It is also manifest that because of its channel formation it may be properly set with diamonds o-r other jewels andvthat the jewels will be accessible and may be readily cleaned and light will be adinittedto the jewels to get the best effects. v i

A chain made up` as described is Very pleasing in appearance; is simple -to manufacture forl the reason that simple stampings are` used and these are connected'togethernwitliout the useroili solder andwithiout Vthe use of any fastening means except the links themselves. Such-a chain is especially adapted for use in jewelry and `may be made up into bracelets and the like;4

mWhat l claim is: y f y l. JArfflexible' ehainof channelfo-rm open on its-inner side andcomprising a kseries of `archshapelouter'A links arranged side by side to form a*- channelan d= havingftheir side members apertured,r and connecting links bridging the joints betweenth'e` side members oit the 'outer links each of' said connecting links being formed with lugs extending through? apertures ini the. side members of.' the adjacent outer links said lugs being bent laterally and clinched with'.- in the channel formed by the outer links the side members of each outer link being flexibly secured to the side members of ad- 100 jacent outer linksA by two of'said connecting links!` 2. A flexible chain of channel form open on its inner sideA and comprising a series ofl arch-shape outerlinksarranged'side by 105 side to Ylorm a channel and havingtheir side members apertured, connecting links bridging the joints between the side mem.- bers of the outer links each? o'l'fsaid connect-` ing links beingiormed with lugs extending 110 through apertures in the side members of the adjacent outery links said lugs being-bent laterally and clinched within the n channel formed by the outer links, the side members of each outer link being flexibly secured to 115 the side memboersof'ladj acentouterlinks by two oi said connecting links,fand extensions formed' on thev connecting' `links said eX- tensions being -bent around the edges'of theside members of the outer-links.v

3. A flexible chaino'tfchannel form open on its inner side and comprisingalseries of archshape outer links arranged side by` side to tornil a channel and having-their side members apertured, connecting `1 links 125 bridging thejjoints between the side mein# bers ofthe outer' links each oi saidconnecting linksfbein'g formed"with lugsfextending through` apertures in the sidelinembersof" the adjacent outerlinksfsaid lugs beingL bent laterally and clinched within the channel formed by the outer links, the side members of each outer link being flexibly secured to the side members of adjacent outer links by two of said connecting links, and extensions formed on the connecting links said extensions being bent around the edges of the side members of the outer links and extending over the clinched lugs.

4. A flexible chain of channel form open on its inner side and comprising a series of arch-shape outer links arranged side by side to form a channel the side members of said outer links being apertured, and connecting links bridging the joints between the side members of the outer links each of said connecting links being formed with lugs extending through apertures in the side members of adjacent outer links.

5. A flexible chain of channel form open on its inner side and comprising a series of arch-shape outer links arranged side by side to form a channel the side members of said outer links being apertured, connecting means bridging the joints between the side members of the outer links each of said connecting means being formed with lugs extending through apertures in the side members ot adjacent outer links, and provided with extensions bridging the joints between side adjacent outer links and engaging the ends thereof to hold them in substantially longitudinal alignment and to orm a substantially smooth wearing sur- 'ace.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aix my signature.

NORMAN C. LEVY. 

